LAKEWOOD, NJ- For the second time this week, the Georgian Court University softball team experienced dramatically different results in a twin-bill, winning a thriller over Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU), 11-9, in the opener before suffering a 13-2, five-inning defeat in the nightcap Saturday afternoon.
The Owls (8-4) got to GCU starting pitcher, Diana Sansevera, for one tally in the top of the first. C Khristle Lee (Sr.-Aztec, NM) drew a one-out bases-on-balls, advanced to second on a single from SS Megan Caporossi (Sr.-Northford, CT) and scored on a Alyssa Pagano (So.-Monroe, CT) single.
The Lions (11-5) rallyed to tie the score in the home half. Lead-off hitter Jess Comiskey started the charge by reaching on a throwing error by Caporossi. 2B Rachel Ruch reached on a fielder's choice, extinquishing DP Sammie Jo Garofalo (who had walked) at second base and advancing Comiskey to third. Ruch then attempted a delayed steal, allowing Comiskey to slide safely into home after another errant throw from the SCSU shortstop.
Georgian Court took a 2-1 advantage in the bottom of the second as SS Jen Tartaglia led off with a double to right-center, advanced to third on a foul fly to right from C Donnie Brossoie and scored on a passed ball by Lee.
Comiskey launched her first long ball of the year to commence the third inning and give the Lions a 3-1 lead.
The visitors piled on three in the top of the fourth to regain the lead at 4-3 with an RBI double from 2B Kristin Whitley (Fr.-North Andover, MA) and a two-run single off the bat of Lee.
SCSU went up, 5-3, in the fifth when Pagano led off with a walk, swiped second base and came in on a Meryl Ragaini (Fr.-Seymour, CT) double. Ragaini came around for another Owls' run on Whitley's second two-bagger of the contest.
GCU stormed back with four runs for a 7-6 lead in the home fifth, three of which came on a two-out dinger from 1B Kelsey Cutler (pictured), her third of the season.
The Lions broke it wide open in the sixth (despite a three-run home run for CF Julianne Flood (Sr.-Poughquag, NY) in the seventh), batting around for four more tallies and an 11-6 lead. 3B/DP Brooke Hull smacked a ribbie single and Tartaglia tagged a two-run double in the stanza.
Sansevera improved to 7-1 in the circle, allowing 12 hits and five walks. She also struck out nine.
Jayme Larson (So.-Aurora, CO) was saddled with the loss (5.1 IP, 6 H, 9 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 5 K).
Game Two was never a contest as the Owls rapped 12 hits and scored in all five innings of the 13-2 blowout. GCU starter, Lyndsay PeQueen (3-3), lasted just 1/3 of an inning as the freshman yielded two balks, a walk, and a hit batter in the opening stanza.
The SCSU onslaught was led by 3B Alyssa Downs (Fr.-Seymour, CT), who went 3-for-3 with a double, triple, home run and three runs scored, and Whitley, who also went 3-for-3 at the dish with two doubles, two runs scored and two ribbies.
Brittany Hill (So.-Durham, CT) pitched splendidly for the Owls, scattering two hits with a walk and four whiffs,
Cutler had one of the two Lions' knocks, a deep, two-run homer to centerfield in the fourth, capping a day with two long balls and five RBI.
GCU hits the road on Tuesday afternoon for a doubleheader at CACC foe, Nyack College (1-11).
